And the sentence right before that (which you did not include in your quote) was, "Love it or hate it, Powerball's pricing and prize structure changes that went into effect in January have indeed paid off for those wanting to play for big jackpots."

So people reading the article would understand why this is the third $300+ million Powerball jackpot this year. Because of the price and prize changes. Love it or hate it.

BTW, just make sure you have some kind of rules in writing for your pool at work. You need something in there about how if a person doesn't pay one drawing, they are not included. It has to be really specific around payments, how it is run, and how it is determined who is playing each drawing. Otherwise, you'll end up with gray legal issues and valid lawsuits.

Or just play solo. My own preferred approach.

Very sound advice on the pool.

But do I actually do it? (That's just a rhetorical question that doesn't require an answer. I think you already know the answer to it.) It's on my to-do list... to put the rules in writing... hopefully soon....

I've already run into a sticky/awkward situation. There are enough partcipants that I can usually play all 35 Power Ball numbers, thus generating a 4 dollar win. All of the partcipants have verbally agreed it would be rolled into the next drawing.

One day, a new guy showed up at my desk, he had heard there was a lottery pool, and asked could he join. I said "Sure" and I took his two bucks. It was then that I realized if we win big off those two lines we bought with the 4 bucks we won in the previous draw, what does that mean for the new guy? What if we won just a $10,000 prize??? He hadn't contributed to the 4 dollar win, yet his two bucks would be in the pool that might win $10,000.... not good.

But do I actually do it? (That's just a rhetorical question that doesn't require an answer. I think you already know the answer to it.) It's on my to-do list... to put the rules in writing... hopefully soon....

I've already run into a sticky/awkward situation. There are enough partcipants that I can usually play all 35 Power Ball numbers, thus generating a 4 dollar win. All of the partcipants have verbally agreed it would be rolled into the next drawing.

One day, a new guy showed up at my desk, he had heard there was a lottery pool, and asked could he join. I said "Sure" and I took his two bucks. It was then that I realized if we win big off those two lines we bought with the 4 bucks we won in the previous draw, what does that mean for the new guy? What if we won just a $10,000 prize??? He hadn't contributed to the 4 dollar win, yet his two bucks would be in the pool that might win $10,000.... not good.

Like I said.... everyone in "the pool" gets an equal share regardless if their current on "dues" or not.

Yeah, I'm playing Mega Millions on Friday because it is on the sixth draw in the current run, and the last jackpot won was on the fifth draw, and seeing that game is still only $1, that is good enough for me. Powerball, I will only play if the advertised jackpot is revised and ends in 2-, 3-, or 4- million (today being the 22, tomorrow the 23, and Saturday the 24), since that game is $2, that condition AND the condition that it is at or past the level where it was last won (which it was on only the second draw last time). An exception to this rule is if the Powerball CASH jackpot rolls to a record (currently $474 million, which is still at least two rolls away), then I will play regardless of the advertised jackpot single millions digit.

On another note, considering the numbers picked, I'm surprised there were only THREE second place winners, when the ticket sales suggests there should have been eight winners. I'll bet the MUSL folks are doing the happy dance because of this! Now, if Saturday's jackpot is not won, imagine how high the pot will go. We may very well see it double!!